The Girl in the Striped Dress

Auschwitz, 1942: This unforgettable novel, inspired by a true story, brings to life history’s most powerful tale of forbidden love. Set within the barbed wire of Auschwitz, a man and a woman fall in love against unimaginable odds. What happens next will restore your faith in humanity, and make you believe in hope even where hope should not exist

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispered, pressing a note into her hand. Her entire body trembled when she read it: I am in love with you.

Helena steps off the cattle train onto the frozen grounds of Auschwitz. She has twenty-four hours to live. Scheduled to be killed tomorrow, she is not even tattooed with a prison number. As the snow falls around her, she shivers, knowing that she has been sentenced to death for a crime she didn’t commit.

When a gray-clad officer marches towards Helena and pulls her away, she fears the worst. Instead, he tells her that it’s one of the guard’s birthdays and orders her to serenade him.

Inside the SS barracks the air is warm, thick with cigarette smoke and boisterous conversation. After she sings to the guard, Franz, he presses a piece of cake into her hands––the first thing she has eaten in days. On the spot, he orders her life to be saved, forever changing the course of her fate.

What follows is a love story that was forbidden, that should have been impossible, and yet saved both of their lives––and hundreds of others––in more ways than one.

Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Choice, and The Orphan Train will be utterly entranced by this unputdownable page-turner. This completely heartbreaking yet beautifully hopeful novel shows that love can survive anything and grow anywhere.

This book was previously published as Auschwitz Syndrome.

Readers love The Girl in the Striped Dress:

“Wow. Wow, wow, WOW. I almost have no words. This was an incredible, heart-wrenching read… Insanely captivating… I cried buckets reading this story… Wow… What a tale. I seriously can’t get over this and I’m so glad I was able to read it.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow!! Time to clear your schedule for the afternoon, coffee pot on and phone turned off––you won’t want to put this one down.” Avid Reader, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I loved this… Wow! This stopped me in my tracks and made me shed a tear. We must never ever forget… Stunning.” Nicki’s Book Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Once in a while, a book comes along your way that breaks your heart. The Girl in the Striped Dress is one such book that broke me from within, tore me apart and left me shattered.” Next On Reading List, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Everyone needs to read this book!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Amazing novel!… This was a fantastic story! And one that will stay with me for some time! The story is hard-hitting, dark and simply wonderful. Heartbreaking, horrifying, unimaginable and tear-worthy, you won’t be able to put it away!… Ellie couldn’t have done a better job writing this. It was mind blowing at times!… One that I will most definitely be taking about!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Had me in tears and I had to put the book down on a number of occasions to compose myself… Have plenty of tissues handy.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Tremendous… The book was unputdownable… Guaranteed to make you cry. The story was so beautifully written… A heartbreaking, tear jerking and emotional book, one that will not let you put the book down… You will remain hooked into the story until the end!” Tropical Girl Reads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐